French toast and boundaries
1145 Words
The smell of cinnamon and butter filled the kitchen before the sun had even fully risen.
Jessica stood barefoot at the stove wearing an oversized hoodie and messy bun, flipping thick slices of French toast while trying not to die from her hangover.
“Why does the pan sound so loud?” she groaned.
Aston sat at the kitchen table laughing into his coffee.
“Because you drank enough Bacardi to kill a pirate.”
Jessica pointed the spatula at him dramatically. “Don’t start with me this early.”
“You danced to country music.”
“I don’t even LIKE country music.”
“You did last night.”
Jessica buried her face into one hand while Aston laughed harder.
The morning somehow felt weirdly natural already.
Like they’d done this before.
Like Aston belonged sitting there at her kitchen table teasing her while she cooked breakfast half asleep.
Jessica glanced over at him again.
His hoodie sleeves were pushed up slightly, coffee mug in one hand while he watched her move around the kitchen casually.
The sight alone made her stomach flip.
Not because of nerves anymore.
Comfort.
Dangerous comfort.
“You hungry or what?” she asked.
“Starving.”
“Good. You’re eating then.”
Aston raised an eyebrow. “I was invited?”
Jessica smirked slightly. “I’m making French toast. It’d be rude to leave.”
“Fair point.”
The sound of footsteps upstairs interrupted them.
Jessica looked toward the hallway immediately.
“Carson’s awake.”
Aston straightened slightly in his chair.
For all his confidence with Jessica, this part suddenly mattered more.
Meeting her son.
A few seconds later Carson walked into the kitchen wearing sweatpants and a wrinkled school hoodie, still half asleep.
Then he stopped.
His eyes landed directly on Aston.
Silence.
Carson looked at his mom slowly. “…Who’s that?”
Jessica tried not to smile.
Aston awkwardly lifted a hand slightly. “Uh. Hey.”
Jessica flipped another piece of French toast calmly before answering.
“That,” she said casually, “is a long lost friend.”
Then she winked directly at Aston.
Aston nearly choked on his coffee.
Carson narrowed his eyes immediately.
“Thtaaaat sounds suspicious.”
Jessica burst out laughing.
“You’re too smart for twelve.”
“I know.”
Carson looked back at Aston again.
“You staying for breakfast?”
“If your mom allows it.”
Jessica pointed the spatula again. “Don’t make me sound controlling.”
“You are controlling.”
“True.”
Carson snorted laughing before sitting down at the table.
The awkwardness faded surprisingly fast after that.
Carson talked a lot once he woke up properly. Mostly about school drama, some kid who got suspended for vaping in the bathroom, and how much he hated math.
Aston listened genuinely instead of pretending to.
That mattered to Jessica more than she expected.
“So what do you do?” Carson asked while drowning his French toast in syrup.
Aston swallowed his coffee. “I work bottling Bacardi.”
Carson blinked. “Wait seriously?”
“Yep.”
Jessica laughed. “That explains why I got obliterated last night.”
Aston smirked. “Not my fault you can’t behave.”
Jessica threw a napkin at him instantly.
Breakfast turned loud after that.
Comfortable loud.
The kind that feels warm instead of chaotic.
Jessica caught herself watching the two of them a few times.
Aston joking with Carson. Carson laughing back.
It hit somewhere deep inside her chest unexpectedly hard.
Because for a long time, Jessica had done everything alone emotionally.
Single motherhood forced her into survival mode most days.
But this?
This looked dangerously close to peace.
After breakfast Carson headed upstairs to get dressed for school while Jessica cleaned the kitchen.
Aston stepped beside her at the sink eventually.
“You okay?” he asked quietly.
Jessica glanced over. “Yeah.”
“You got quiet.”
She shrugged softly. “Just weird seeing someone else here.”
“Good weird?”
Jessica smiled faintly. “Yeah.”
Upstairs drawers slammed open and shut while Carson got ready.
“Mom! Have you seen my black hoodie?”
“It’s probably in the dryer!”
“Found it!”
Aston laughed quietly. “Mornings are chaotic here huh?”
“You have no idea.”
Eventually Carson came downstairs fully dressed with backpack hanging off one shoulder.
“Bus comes in five.”
Jessica grabbed her own hoodie. “I’ll walk with you.”
Carson rolled his eyes dramatically. “Mom I’m literally twelve.”
“And?”
“And nothing. Let’s go.”
Before leaving, Jessica looked at Aston.
“Behave yourself.”
Aston smirked lazily. “No promises.”
Jessica narrowed her eyes jokingly before leaving with Carson.
The house fell quiet almost instantly afterward.
Aston leaned back against the kitchen counter alone for a moment.
Then his eyes wandered toward the hallway.
Toward Jessica’s room.
He told himself not to.
Seriously.
But curiosity got him anyway.
Aston walked into her bedroom slowly, glancing around at the little details that made the room hers. Perfume bottles. Hair ties. Hoodies tossed over a chair.
Then his attention landed on the half-open dresser drawer.
He shouldn’t.
Absolutely shouldn’t.
But he stepped closer anyway.
The top drawer slid open easier than expected.
And there they were.
Lace. Black fabric. Tiny colorful pairs folded messily together.
Aston exhaled slowly under his breath.
“Jesus Christ…”
He picked one pair up absentmindedly, shaking his head with a grin.
“She’s unreal.”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
Aston froze instantly.
Jessica stood in the doorway staring at him in disbelief.
Her arms crossed immediately.
“Aston!”
He turned around fast still holding the panties like an i***t caught stealing.
“Uh—”
“Those are PERSONAL!” Jessica snapped, marching toward him. “What are you doing going through my stuff anyway?!”
Aston immediately dropped them back into the drawer.
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re snooping through my underwear drawer!”
“I KNOW.”
Jessica stared at him, genuinely annoyed now.
Aston rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly before blurting, “You’re too sexy not to wonder what you’re wearing under your pants.”
Silence.
Jessica blinked.
Then blinked again.
“You are unbelievable.”
“I apologized.”
“That is SO weird.”
“But slightly flattering?”
Jessica tried to stay mad.
Really tried.
But the stupid grin forming on Aston’s face ruined it completely.
She shook her head laughing despite herself.
“You’re lucky you’re attractive.”
Aston smirked. “So I’m forgiven?”
Jessica walked closer slowly until she stood directly in front of him.
“No,” she said softly.
Then after a pause:
“…Maybe a little.”
- Writer
